Saturday, November 16, 2013

No game this week, but last week
we played our third game in the newTour of Darkness Campaign- I just never got around to typing up the report. Rick finally made it out to a game and
made another fire team leader – for an MG team!

SITUATION

Early June 1965

The 173rd Airborne
Brigade has been ordered to begin training for offensive operations in the
Republic of Vietnam.

SCENARIO

After some practice in airmobile
operations the platoon was been ordered to set up an ambush along a trail
discovered during an earlier patrol near the Bien Hoa Airbase. It was suspected
that the trail is being used by the Viet Cong to haul mortars and rockets up to
a nearby hilltop to fire upon Bien Hoa.

Half the platoon was to be
dropped off by truck a few kilometers south of the trail in late afternoon.
They were to proceed to the trail and set up an ambush just before dark in
hopes of catching Viet Cong along the trail at night.

During training and patrols it
was discovered that Sgt. Malone had a real knack for spotting enemy force
ambushers and actual booby traps on trails (that Danger Sense edge) so he more
or less has permanently been assigned pointman. Unfortunately Sgt. Malone never
really did learn to use a map and compass so well (no Knowledge: Navigatrion).
Their platoon commander is equally useless in finding his way around in the
bush… So in very short order the platoon got hopelessly lost. Around dusk they
ended up approaching a village (there wasn’t supposed to be a village on their
line of march) and worse they decided it was a different village on the map and
marched off in the opposite direction that they should have…

An hour or so after dark they
realized their error and turned about to retrace their steps. They then
followed a path leading out of the village they figured would take them to
where they wanted to get to. Unfortunately the path bent off in the wrong
direction and they didn’t notice it was taking them around the wrong end of a
hill/ridgeline until just before midnight. Turning and heading uphill they came
across a trail along the saddle between two hills just after midnight and Lt.
Haverford declared this must be the place!

(It wasn’t).

So they set up their ambush…

(Remember: click on the pictures
for a bigger version)

The platoons ambush site.

Around 1AM a local wandered
along the trail – from the south to the north and NO ONE even noticed her!? She
returned and hour and a half later and was spotted this time by Sgt. Thomas (I
think…) unfortunately he started when he spotted someone on the trail and she
spotted him hiding in the bush… they starred at each other for a minute - Sgt.
Thomas not wanting to do anything because he’d been ordered not to fire until Lt.
Haverford triggered the ambush. Eventually the local made off back along the
trail at a slightly quicker pace. Moving right past the next position
completely unnoticed. Next she wandered by Lt. Haverford’s position and while
Lt. Haverford didn’t notice her, his team did and they were looking at him
awaiting his call. When he finally noticed his team looking at him he asked “is
it the enemy” and one of his riflemen nearby nodded so Lt. Haverford fired his
pistol blindly (as he could still see no one) triggering the ambush. The night
was lit up by a dozen muzzle flashes pouring hundreds of bullets into the
jungle across the soldier individual firing arcs (because no one else could
actually see anyone!?)

After a minute or two of firing
Lt. Haverford called at everyone to cease firing when they eventually did Sgt.
Malone team was tasked with searching the kill zone. A dead woman was found
with a pistol shot wound to her neck. No other enemy and no weapons could be
found. The woman carried no identification, or anything else for that matter,
which,along with the fact that
she was out after midnight seemed to indicate she was up to no good.

Lt. Haverford had the team moved
back to an RV point just behind the ambush site and proceeded south to the hill
top and found a large clearing where they set up a quick all-round position
until dawn. At dawn they tried to get their bearings as best they could and
make their way back to the road for pick up.

Again they went wildly off
course and when they finally found the road they were nowhere near where they
were to be picked up and much, much later than when they were supposed to be
there waiting pick up… so they headed back in the direction of Bien Hoa (or
what they hoped was the direction of Bien Hoa..). A few hours later they trucks
– which had been driving up and down the road looking for them – and getting
mighty nervous – finally found them and gave them a lift back to base…

Christian, again, wrote his own
After Action Report for 2Lt. Haverford:

Patrol Report

A. C/S Gridiron 1B. Patrol Leader - 2LT Haverford W.M.C. Patrol Size - 1 Officer (me), 18 enlisted menD. Patrol Composition - see above. Also, 1 and 3 Fireteams, and Weapons squad.E. Mission - Gridiron 1 will destroy VC elements in the area of HILL 557 in order to deny them use of the hill as an OP.F. Departure - 1600 12 June 1965G. Return - 0800 13 June 1965H. Routes Out/In - See att map.I. Terrain - Think jungle crosscutted by trails and paths.J. Info Enemey - 1 Enemey VC KIA. Enemey was encountered in squad strength, but got out of the Ambush area. En was not in uniform. En was moving from HILL 557 towards village HOE DUCK along root provided by INT.K. Map Correction - There are severals trails that are not marked on the maps. See att mao. The ravine on the east side of the rigde north of HILL 577 is a MAJOR obstacle.L. Misc Info - En was no match for our platoon, and was totally surprized. Due to wild fire, the main enemy got away.M. Results of encounters with Enemy - 1 En KIA. En VC had nno INT onboard. No weapons were recovered, as the rest took it.N. Condition of Patrol - Excellemt. Morale is high after our victory, and 1 PL is ready to resume offensive Ops imeddiately.O. Suppory received/requested - Transport to dropoff point was good, however, transport from the pickup spot was late and in the wrong place. No other support required.P. Communications - The radios were used on the patrol for radio silence only.Q. Friendly/Neutrals - No contact with any locals was made. Due to the stealthy nature of the patrol, we were not spotted.R. Conclusions/Recommendations - 1 PL performed very well. Morale was high, feildcrraft was good, and the troops lived up to the AIRBORNE spirit. 1 PL needs to improve nightthime fire disipline, and maps and compassess need to be more used. 1PL will conduct navigation training soonest, as a minor error in navigation led to the ambush being deployed a little bit late. The GOOD news is that 1 PL has defeated the EN VC in the area of HILL 557 for the moment. Also, thanks for the report fprmat!

Coming soon on Savage Timmy’s Playhouse Blog:

One of these days I’ll post some
character backgrounds for – hopefully before a report of next week’s
activities….?

Thursday, November 7, 2013

We played a second game in out Tour of Darkness Campaignlast weekend. Christian is back in town and was able
to make it out and make up a new character 2Lt. William (Billy) Haverford IV – The platoon commander.

SITUATION

Late May 1965

A few weeks ago, the 173rd
Airborne Brigade arrived in the Republic of Vietnam from Okinawa. One battalion
had been tasked to defend Bien Hoa airbase. So far the platoon has spent most of
their time filling sandbags to bolster the defences around Bien Hoa.
Occasionally they are sent out on security/presence patrols in the immediate
vicinity of the Airbase.

SCENARIO

Half of the platoon is to
conduct a security/presence patrol along a road near the Bien Hoa airbase.

While passing a village along
their route everyone in the patrol – except 2Lt. Haverford – spotted four
Vietnamese running towards the village.

(Remember: click on the pictures
for a bigger version)

Patrol on the road in the distance. Four (suspected) Local
Force VC heading towards the village.

Lt. Haverford, despite not actually spotting the suspected
VC, called it in and ordered his troops to advance towards the village to
investigate.

The Troops arrive at the village.

Eventually the locals were
corralled up and the village was searched… and then searched again… The second
time around they found a concealed pit inside one of the huts that dropped into
the darkness. Sgt. Thomas and his fireteam were ordered to investigate and Lt
Haverford called for some engineers.

At the bottom of the 10 ft deep
2’x2’ shaft they found a 2’ wide x 3’ tall horizontal tunnel which Thomas
followed. After a couple of turns they found the tunnel opened into a room of
sorts where Thomas spotted some people. Thomas and his team broke contact
without a shot fired and fell back to the tunnel entrance. Thomas went back in
with a smoke grenade and with a stunning throwing skill check (there were many
raises involved) from the first corner, bounced it around the second corner and
right into the room. HE again retired to the entrance and the tunnel was
covered up with some mats.

Meanwhile, just outside the
village, at the edge of the woods where Sgt. Malone’s team was checking out at
trail, Sgt. Malone spotted smoke coming from a bush and discovered a ventilation
shaft. He shoved another smoke grenade in there and then plugged it.

Very shortly after four skinny young
men were at the tunnel entrance calling to be let out and trying to surrender.
A small cache of weapons and supplies was discovered when the smoke cleared out
of the tunnel. The Engineers eventually arrived and blew up the tunnel and the
VC prisoners were hauled off.

Christian wrote his own After Action
Report for 2Lt. Haverford:

Patrol Report
- 1 Pl - 12 May 1965

2LT William
Haverford IV, Platoon comannder - C/S Gridiron 1

This is a typed
version of what I have already passed on to you and the OPS O. Please
excuse my poor typeing.

1. Mission - 1
Platoon was told to patrol the area of grids 4732, 4832, 4731, and 4831.
Establish ptterns of life, establish good relations with the local local
people, and establish the enemy in the area.

2. CONOPS - I
decided to take the platoon and traverse the area on foot so I could see the
enemy locals and other locals and their villages and huts and
infrastructures. The platoon maintained security at all times, and used
flankers throughout.

3. Route -
see att maps.

4. Terrain
- The area is mostly flat and is cut by roads which are above expensive rice
patty networks. There are 3 villages and in the north of the AO is some
jungle with rising ground and jungle foilage.

4. Local
Activity/Patterns of Life: The village at grid 476 328 is called KIM
DONG. There are approx 200 people living there. They report no VC
or communist activity. The village is surrounded by open feilds and rice
pattys, and the locals there seem favorable towards the American Way of
Life. The mayor's name is NOM NUYEN. The village at grid
480311 is called FAP DONG, with about 350 people, similar to KIM DONG. The
locals there are friendly and seemed happy to see the troopers and
men. The Mayor there is named BIN HYUP. This village
has many Oxen and a temple.

5. Enemy
Activity: Approaching the village of BEN GWA I spotted four armed locals
armed with rifles and arms. They proceeded into the village.
Rallying and organasing the platoon I led the platoon accrss the rice pattys
and a stream before the village. There was no sign of the armed locals,
just unarmed with rice locals. I gathered the villagers in the center and
I searched them and talked to the village mayor whose name is CAN VONG.
He said "No VC" and "very happy". I think my
interpreter is a VC because he said way less than the mayor, but I don't speak
Vietnamese and it could be very long. His name is BIN TRANG. The
troops were reacting to my direction and I told them to search the huts in the
village. The village has about 100 people, some of who might be VC
simpathisers because of the hole, see below. I found a hole with 2
Fireteam. It was in the floor. I immediately sent a SITREP and led
Fireteam 1 into the tunnel by directing SGT THOMAS down the hole. He
found VC, and retreated from them. So I pulled back Fireteam 1 and
ordered a smoke grenade into the hole. Also SGT MOLONE found an airhole
inthe trail and threw a smoke into it. As a result of the platoons brave
actions and calm leadership I took 4 VC prisoners, which were loaded into a
helicopter and turned over to the MPs for interrorgating. It must be
noted that SGT MOLONE was the one who found the hole as well as the other hole
and smoked it too. I have commanded him for his good behavior and if he
keeps it up he may win a medal as well. The engineers found 230 pounds of
rice and some ammuntiotn and four rifles and no int. And a lamp.
The mayor CAN VONG told BIM TRANG that the VC made them host the hole and give
them some rice, but he said "No VC" so I believe that he is a VC
presence in the area, but I gave him some rations anyway, and he said
"very happy" from BIN TRANG. Oh yes, a boy ran away into the
jungle, but I was able to miss him, for which I am glad.

7.
Reccomendations - I reccomend that AMERICAN forces regularly patrol BIEN GWA
and look for VD and holes. Also, BIM TRANG is maybe a VC and should be
interrorgated, or learn more AMERICAN. Also, I reecommend that ENGINEER
asets be att to every patrol that might encounter a VC holee.

a. Patrols should carry more flashlights and pistols for
tunnel fighting.

b. It would be useful to carry field phones
on patrol for hole useage.

c Also, gas grenades.

d. It is clear that the VC is conducting
operations on the AO of the patrol area, and therefore we should try and
americanize the population of local Vietnamese locals.

e. I suggest that the Veitnamese kids be taught
football in their schools, so they will be more AMERICAN. If directed, I
will lazon with the local teachers and. For this I will require more
footballs. I will talk to the QUARTER MASTER.

7. Also,
FAP DONG and KIM DONG do not seem to be VC and are nice to AMERICANS, they can
be trusted so far. The VC seem to be using the jungle to dig
tunnels. We should look for more holes in the jungle and smoke them.

8. In
closing, I believe that 1 PLATOON is the example of AIRBORNE spirit, and I will
continue to lead them down the field for the big win so we can follow GEN
WILLIAMSONS orders to be home by CHRISTMAS.

9. Thanks.

BILL HAVERFORD

WR HAVERFORD IV

2LT

1 BN 503 PIR

BEN HO AIRFIELD

VIETMAN

Coming soon on Savage Timmy’s Playhouse Blog:

Perhaps some character
backgrounds for Cpl. Gerry “Gums” Malone, Cpl. Jerome Thomas, and 2Lt.
Haverford… and then a report of next week’s activities….?